Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands

10 Review to this product

• 

  J. Forst
  May 19th, 2010 on 2:58 am

  Rating

  From the opening scenes these graphics look straight out of the movies. So far the prince has been trying to catch up w/ his brother in his fathers castle. It is the typical PoP type of stuff with lots of wall running and acrobatics. The swinging leaps from bar to bar look incredible and the controls are great.
  
  Swordplay and enemy fighting seems pretty basic with options to kick, stab or hold a button down for large attacks. The sound is incredible and save icon seems to appear often. I will update this as I go along in the game. So far – lots of fun, smooth controls, great graphics & sound with lots happening around you.
  
  Lots of classic themes that you’ve come to love w/ the poP series – timed doorways, lethal traps, retractable spiked floors, problem/puzzle solving and finding hidden treasures to upgrade items at your choosing (health,rewind time,sword power and unlockables). The freezing of water is way cool and really makes you think about how to get through certain areas. There is also another Dharkara (sp?) type of creature following you around the outside at times. The only thing missing i’ve noticed is the slowing down of time option. The prince possibly could of used a few more detailed features on his charcter but the game surroundings make up for it I think. Your blue and red power up orbs seem to be at random so it makes gameplay a bit more interesting as far as recovery goes.
  
  BTW – the version I have came with an exclusive Sandwraith skin and it looks like you may be able to unlock a skin of Enzio from Assassin’s Creed later in the game. Has a UPlay option in the game where certain happenings get you certain points to use later on as upgrades.
• 

  Adam J. Currier
  May 19th, 2010 on 6:06 am

  Rating

  I will start out saying this game may have been tethered to the release of the movie, but it is not the same story. This game takes place directly after the movie that is coming out.

  I have played through for about 2 hrs, and am rather enjoying it. It literally feels like playing the two thrones on PS2, but with great advances made to the fighting, graphics, and general feel of the game. Not long into it you are fighting 20-30 enemies at one time with 3-4 enemies spawning more and more out the ground. The best part I have played thus far is the ability to solidify water spouts selectively. You will jump from one to another then have to release the freezing button to go through water in liquid form only to immediately freeze it again to make it to the next pillar. It is challenging enough that you will need to rewind time once or twice but easy enough to figure out on the fly.

  the fighting mechanics are very basic, you have your standard hack and slash combined with power moves, by holding the attack button, and your acrobatics such as jumping on an enemey and stabbing him in the back as you flip around them. You can also mix in several powers with the attacks that will help you compensate for the large waves of enemies that come your way. There is also a common upgade system for attacks and powers that you purchase by gaining XP from killing opponents and breaking sarcophagi.

  The controls are kinda sticky, but you get used to the timing pretty easy and will be off and on your way quickly. This game has already thrown 3 challenging puzzles my way only 2 hrs into it.

  All in all I am pleased with the game, much more so than I was the revamped version of P.o.P. last year. Ubisoft went back to basics and totally got back on track with this game in my opinion. I suggest buying and giving a try for yourself
• 

  Sars
  May 19th, 2010 on 9:30 pm

  Rating

  so yesturday i went to gamestop and out of all the good games that came out yesturday i pick prince of persia because i liked the last one alot. this is nothing like the last one but that doesnt mean its a bad thing. its a fun little game. you have to clime and figure out different things so you can get to the next section. i havnt ran into any to tough yet but they will keep you thinking. the controls are smooth and so far the story is great. is this going to be a game of the year no it is not, and it probily wont be one of he best games of this year, but this game is fun and i would say atleast rent it or pick it up when the price drops. i will update my review when i get further in. i just wanted to let people know what they were getting into if they bought this game. the graphics are good and the game if fun. the trophies dont seem to difficult either. thanks for reading
• 

  Travis Deputy
  May 19th, 2010 on 10:19 pm

  Rating

  It’s kind of hard for me to review this game because there are so many things I like about it, but a handful of things that make me shake my head and wonder what Ubisoft was thinking. In my opinion this is the third best Prince game out of the five that start with the Sands of Time game. The Sands of Time is still my favorite(I wish they would make a reboot of that one graphically) followed by The Warrior Within, then the last Prince of Persia on the PS3, lastly The Two Thrones. So, what to start with… the good or the bad… let’s get the bad out of the way.

  Graphics: Come on Ubisoft! This is 2010, not 2005! The graphics on Forgotten Sands should have been much better with the technology that is available today. Ubisoft is capable of making beautiful games. I’m not sure what happened here. It’s not terrible, but it is below par for action/adventure games of this day and age. What this game needs graphically is a nice polish. It some levels it is graphically beautiful and in others it’s kind dull and pitiful. It’s not a huge disappoinment and it doesn’t detract a whole lot from the game, but it is something that needs to be noted.

  Story: It’s pretty much the same kind of story that took place within The Sands of Time game. I loved the story in that game, but the problem here is it’s been done before. Couldn’t they come up with something a bit more original. Again, it’s not a huge disappointment and it probably won’t detract away from the fun you’re going to have playing it, but it might was well not even have a story. I found myself not really paying much attention to it.

  Gameplay: First, let me say the Prince, as in the other Prince games, moves with acrobatic grace. However, that doesn’t help the combat system. The fighting moves seem sluggish and uninspired at times. The enemies you fight for the first good portion of the game(probably the first half or so) are dumber than rocks as far as a.i.(no, I don’t mean Allen Iverson either LOL) is concerned. I mean seriously none of the low level enemies have any kind of finding strategy. Yes, the screen will fill up with 20-25 enemies at a time, but you never really feel like you’re in any serious danger, and that’s not b/c the Prince is a complete badass. I think Ubisoft could have learned something from God of War 3′s combat system. All is not lost, though because the later enemies do provide a rather robust challenge. Thankfully it’s not overly challenging.

  On to the good stuff…

  Gameplay, again: Yes, a big portion of the gameplay is awesome. The Prince’s magic attacks are awesome and a whole lot of fun wiping enemies out with. The whole climbing and wall running is just as much a blast as before. It can get quite challenging, and even frustating at times, later on the game when you have to combine different powers to get through a certain level/portion of the game. Being able to freeze water and climb up it is challenging, without being overly so, and fun. Timing and stringing together your powers to further your progress is a big part of what makes Forgotten Sands so much fun.

  Rewind Time: It was kind of crappy in the last Prince game when you had unlimited rewind time. I think it took away a lot of the challenge that the game offered. Not so, in this game. You can rewind, once your rewind bar is maxed out, about 5 times or so. This adds more challenge to the game without it becoming frustating. Don’t mistake me that there isn’t parts in this game that will frustate you. There are sections were you may have to attempt to climb something or do a combo power sequence X (i.e. 7 or number of times. Fortunately the fun and challenging parts far outweigh the frustating parts.

  Music: I love the music in Forgoteen Sands. Possibly the best in the series. It has a real Arabian feel to it and the mood of it fits every level perfectly. It’s probably one of things, besides all the climbing and wall-running, that kept me glued to the game from beginning to end. Excellent musical score, but somewhat shoddy graphics. It makes no sense.

  Length: It’s rather meaty quest. I’m not sure how long it took me to go through it, but if I had to guess I’d say in the neighorhood of 12-15 hours. I got this about 3 p.m. CST yesterday(starting playing immediatly) and just finished it a few hours ago. I actually liked the ending and I hope they continue with this new direction for the Prince. I won’t give anything away about the ending, but I think you’ll be satisfied with it.

  Fun: Oh yeah! It’s a helluva lot fun, even taking into account the missteps that Ubisoft made. I’m kind of burnt out on it right now, but I definitely see myself going through it again with this Prince. The bottom line is you’re going to have a fun adventure with the Prince as wall climb/run and fight through hordes of enemies to save the day. For some this may be a rental only, but if you’re a diehard Prince of Persia fan(like me) or big fan of action/adventure game(me, too) then I’d say it’s safe to add this to you’re collection. Despite a few missteps, it’s still a awesome game loaded with fun!

  I give Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands 4.5 stars or a 9 out of 10 for fun factor and 4.25 stars or an 8.5 out of 10 overall. I had a blast with it I think you will, too!
• 

  S. Fure
  May 20th, 2010 on 11:47 am

  Rating

  Love all the other Prince of Persia games and this one does not disappoint! It’s a ton of fun and I’ve really enjoyed playing it.
• 

  Daybart
  May 21st, 2010 on 2:02 pm

  Rating

  This is the best POP game even though it is short, I beat it in about 2 days. The gameplay is smooth, cool story, and has some obstacles from the last game. There are a lot of cool mini-bosses. I would definitely recommend this game.
  
• 

  Funky Winkerbean
  May 23rd, 2010 on 8:11 am

  Rating

  When 2008′s PoP came out, I had a hard time seeing what everyone’s problem with it was, it was actually a good game. For all the complainers though, this game should fix the problems right up. This fits perfectly into the Sands of Time mythos, evoking feelings of gaming days gone by. If you play this and don’t like it, the PoP games are not for you. This is exactly what the PoP is all about.
• 

  Raul G.
  May 24th, 2010 on 4:19 am

  Rating

  I’ve been a longtime fan of the Prince of Persia series ever since The Sands of Time was released on the last-gen consoles. The subsequent games in the series have progressively gotten further and further away from what made The Sands of Time so great. For example Warrior Within, though a good game, relied on a brash artistic style and heavy-metal music that never really felt quite right for the PoP series. The Two Thrones followed a similar route albeit with a weaker storyline. The last PoP outing on the PS3/X360 completely split off and featured a completely new storyline, art style and was probably my least favorite of the PoP games. After hearing that The Forgotten Sands would return to the roots established with The Sands of Time I was eagerly anticipating the game.

  First, there’s a lot to like about The Forgotten Sands (TFS) and anyone who has played The Sands of Time will be right at home with the game. The graphics are what you would expect from a top-tier Ubisoft game – they’re excellent in other words. The color palette is full of browns as you’d expect from a game set in a desert environment, however, that is contrasted by the diverse settings. Areas like hanging gardens, water/sewer systems, etc.

  The storyline is straightforward but interesting and keeps things moving forward at a good pace. The game begins with the young prince returning to his brothers kingdom after a prolonged absence. The kingdom is under siege by a powerful army and in desperation the Prince’s brother calls forth the fabled army of King Soloman.

  Another notable positive in TFS is the excellent soundtrack and voice acting. The original voice actor from The Sands of Time – Yuri Lowenthal – is back to voicing the Prince and does a great job. I always felt a connection with Yuri’s voicework over that of Nolan North in the PoP series. The game music, thankfully loses the heavy metal track that felt woefully out of place and returns to a more appropriate Arabic theme.

  The gameplay mechanics are similar to previous PoP games. The Prince retains the ability to recall time in short bursts though the use of the ability is limited. This adds a definite challenge to the game though there is also a strong sense of accomplishment once a particularly difficult area is traversed. That feeling of accomplishment was something that I felt was missing entirely from the previous PoP installment on the PS3. Throughout his adventure the Prince will receive upgrade points by slaughtering enemies or finding sarcophagus statues that he can smash. These points can be used on an upgrade grid for abilities ranging from increased damage to physical attacks to elemental spells based on ice, fire, & wind, and even a few defensive upgrades as well.

  There are a few areas where The Forgotten Sands falls a bit short and thus keeps me from rating the game higher. First of all, being a Ubisoft game virtually guarantees that TFS will have glitches and bugs. I can most definitely confirm that TFS does. Near the end of the game I ran into a massive glitch which basically prevented me from advancing further in the story. Initially I thought I’d have to start a new game – though luckily TFS does create a back-up save file (the game auto-saves & doesn’t allow the user to create save files). Ultimately the glitch cost me about 2hrs of gameplay. Not great, but thankfully not totally devastating. I really do think Ubisoft needs to do a better job testing their games. Problems like the one I encountered in TFS have plagued nearly every single Ubisoft game I’ve played.

  Second, the combat in the TFS leaves something to be desired. I couldn’t help but feel that the combat felt somewhat sluggish the entire game. Contrast that with the Prince’s fluid movements through the environment and it becomes even more apparent. Also, on the topic of combat – the game will throw hordes of enemies at the Prince but yet the game lacks any feeling of real danger. I think that I felt overpowered the entire game – even against the boss creatures.

  Lastly, probably one of the biggest complaints that will be fielded against TFS – it’s short. Like 8hrs short and even less for veterans of the series. The game is satisfying but it follows a very predictable path with zero surprises or plot twists. I was tempted to give the game a lower rating based on this factor alone, but the game is solid enough. Just don’t expect anything that you don’t see coming from a mile away.

  Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is definitely worth playing even if the adventure is a bit predictable and short-lived.
• 

  Jason C. Smolesky
  May 27th, 2010 on 11:56 am

  Rating

  Prince of Persia’s rebooted franchise has established a very familiar formula at this point. Put a kingdom in peril, insert the prince, make him jump ,roll,dodge, leap and parkour about, whilst fighting baddies then the stir in a great narrative and epic final battle.The result is usually a stunning game which will keep you enthralled for hours.

  The Forgotten Sands is no exception, although I felt that it plays it too safe. This is the old prince and game play style you may remember from previous games and I think fans of the series will enjoy this “episode” short as it is.

  Graphics – This is a great looking game. The palace is remarkably detailed from giant tapestries and minuets to detailed stonework and gorgeous water effects. One could easily overlook the care that went into the backgrounds and models as they blast through the levels . Maliq and side characters also look spot on. And from an animations standpoint the Prince is too. Every detail of his movement is lifelike and well executed.
  
  That said, the prince apparently visited Janice Dickenson’ s plastic surgeon. Not sure what happened here but he looks like a different…..and much uglier dude. Now of course this may be partly the fact that he is in “HD next gen” for the first time. Thankfully, the voice is familiar and you will probably forget this minor snafu early on. Besides, you spend more time looking at the back of his head than his ugly mug anyways.

  Audio-
  
  This game sounds great, but the really star of the show is the music..which really makes many dull moments come to life and it certainly stands up to rest of the series. Epic music-thumbs up there

  Controls-
  
  Right off the bat you already know these controls if you have played a POP game which a few exceptions.
  
  1. I had to invert the Y axis in the menu- not sure but I could have sworn that this setting was default on previous games- no biggie-
  
  2. You will be using allot of shoulder buttons later in game. Your hands will cramp up so get the tiger balm ready and give your digits a break after a while.

  Gameplay- Well its very standard POP – The game incorporates a few new moves and new mechanics. The core of which is freezing water, well freezing is not really correct. You make water solid, so it’s like freezing minus the cold. This mechanic is great because it offers some challenging new puzzles where you have to time the freezing , on and off to get through one waterfall than jump to another etc. There are a few other new mechanics but this one is the most frequently used.

  Combat-
  
  The combat is an issue, I can see that they wanted to streamline and simplify it however I think they over simplified it. The enemies are a total pushover.Sometimes they just stand there waiting for you to cut them down while holding their swords likes they are about swing but first they want to give YOU a chance to kill them….???? W T H ?
  
  The addition of powers like the fire trail and freeze blast thing makes this WAY TOO EASY. Combat is almost an annoyance in this game and certainly takes backseat to platforming. Which is OK,…but Warrior Within was able to balance this and I don’t see why they chose to go the opposite way here. I prefer the deeper combat system and I question this choice by the developers .

  Also- I couldn’t help but notice that all the mid-bosses are all the exact same enemy…roll away let him hit the wall the slice his ankles, jump on him stab him and repeat- Including the Efreet-
  
  wow talk about lazy, if there had been more diversity this may have salvaged the combat a bit.

  One last thing on game play; I thought the boss fight in the last game was WAY TOO HARD…..this game it was quite the opposite…..in fact I cant recall a recent game where the final boss was such a push over.

  Story-
  
  The story is pretty straightforward and has very few twist turns or anything interesting to it that would actually make me care. The only dynamic is the whole “Brothers” thing and even that falls flat. It almost seems like the story was an after thought.
  
  This is a shame because in my opinion it’s the games biggest issue. The thing that made “The Sands of Time” a great game was the AMAZING narrative . It was as if a story from Arabian Nights had come to life and put YOU right in the middle as the hero. This series is built on a great character and great storytelling but sadly here it really fails to sweep you up. This is a minor “Episode” of the princes life and rather mediocre one at that.

  Conclusion-
  
  This is not a bad game, it just suffers from a few minor issues and a mediocre story. Fans of POP will be right at home with this game and I suspect will find some enjoyment with the new freeze water power. My advise—>Rent it-
  
  It is a good game just not up to snuff with the rest of the series….don’t waste 60 bucks — because although it has some unlockable modes etc. chances are after you beat this game you’ll move on. It had allot of potential but I felt it was just short of the mark of being a rightful heir to this series throne.
• 

  Steve Marco
  May 28th, 2010 on 7:11 pm

  Rating

  i thought it was a very fun game! the puzzles aren’t exactly the hardest to figure out but they are challenging. its not like you get through everything on your first try. the water timing gets very tricky towards the end. i gave up on Tomb Raider because the puzzles were too hard! wasnt fun for me to run around in circles for hours at a time. i think Uncharted 2 was just perfect. another similar game Dante’s Inferno, very very fun! i really enjoyed that game.
  
  but back to prince of persia, it was a little easy and short. i rented it thursday, played it for a few hours. came back to it and played it a few hours the next morning and beat it. i guess i’d give it 4 stars for very fun and entertaining and graphics were decent, but definately that camera lock sucked!! missed like every secret figure breaking thing becuase the camera was blocking it out! good out weighs the bad here though. its short but sweet! hell i’ll give it 5 stars, it was a really fun game!